World of Warcraft®

"Ow! Not…. the….. ponytails!"

The harsh, cold winds rolling off the mountains made even the best trained gryphon's flight dip and swerve unexpectedly, and to Derscha's dismay, the height difference between her and her night elf companion meant that Arietha frequently clutched at Derscha's head for support. Arietha had yet to earn her flight master's license, so she sat behind the experience courier as she directed the gryphon. The two of them together barely tested the powerful creatures's strength.

"Are we close?" Ari shouted above Derscha's head. There wasn't any fear in her voice, just excitement and awe at seeing the majesty of Storm Peaks from above. Derscha could feel her straining in the straps to look left and right.

"Almost. Just a little higher. There's the road for folks who can't fly!"

A few wingbeats later, the cliff gave way to a wide plateau among the mountains. There was a strange sense of artistry to the scene. Clouds rolled like fog along its expanse, making it impossible to judge just how far it extended. Just on the edge of visibility, the dark outline of an oversized abbey beckoned them forward.

"That's a hospital?" Arietha exclaimed. "It's amazing! Who built it?"

"Sure is, I don't know, and hold on!"

Arietha clutched at Derscha's head as they swooped down for a landing.

They landed in the abbey's visitor's courtyard with little fuss, well-trained footman rushing to greet them. Arietha dismounted first, and shyly showed their AAMS identification while Derscha handed the gryphon off to a gruff-looking dwarf.

They were ushered inside, out of the cold, into the main hall. It was only marginally warmer inside, but it was a welcome break. Arietha craned her head to peer at the recesses of the vaulted ceilings, and stare at the figures carved into the stones. Derscha set her eyes a little lower, admiring the large tapestry that covered the nearest wall.

"Think we can take a tour?" the recruit asked in a hushed voice, which unfortunately carried very well in the open stone hallway.

"Delivery first, sightseeing second," she replied absently. Was that silk embroidery?

"I'm sure we can arrange a tour through the public areas," a voice surprised them.

Arietha hastily stepped behind Derscha- however much good hiding behind a gnome would do- and tried not blush.

A older human in healer's robes walked toward them, a pleasant smile on his face. His practiced soft steps didn't make any noise on the stone floor. "I saw a gryphon arrive with double passengers, and thought it was an emergency patient. I'm relieved to see it's the AAMS. I am the Chief Healer, Father Talmon."

"I'm Derscha Kettlebomb, and this is my trainee, Arietha Whitesong. We've a delivery for Merral Stoneheardt."

"I'm afraid he isn't on the premises on the moment, but I will happy to hold it for him until he come back in."

Derscha nodded. She'd been told to expect such. "Ari?"

"Oh, yes!" Arietha fumbled a moment to open the weatherproof pouch at her side, but the letter inside was intact. She gave the letter to Derscha, who in turn handed it to Father Talmon.

"Thank you. I'll see that he gets this soon."

"Now…" Derscha grinned impishly, "….about that tour? I'm not that eager to rush back into the cold!"

Father Talmon laughed. "This way. I know just the perfect tour guide."

As they followed a safe distance behind the priest, Arietha whispered yet another question.

"It's freezing outside, Derscha, where else would someone be?"

((Merral Stoneheardt? Is he a long lost cousin? :O

Nice writing.))

Up in the mountains, the snow rarely fell straight down.

The flurries swirled and twisted in the winds, buffeted this way and that. Still, those who knew area well would have only called it a mild storm.

A cloaked figure marched sturdily in the "gentle" sideways snow, his step unhurried despite the weather. A dull glimmer of reflected from beneath gaps in his cloak, and silver hair could be glimpsed under his hood as he adjusted it against the wind.

The sentry greeted the visitor cheerfully, and the cloaked figure clapped him on the shoulder. An attendant opened the heavy doors that protected the hospital's main gate from the cold, and the figure strode inside at the same unhurried pace.

Not too far away, the promised guide led the two AAMS couriers through the halls. The "perfect tour guide" was Father Talmon himself, who was pleased to have a willing audience listen to him lecture about the abbey's history.

Well, half-willing. Arietha listened intently, while Derscha mentally hummed to herself.

"If you have anymore questions about our history, please feel free to ask," the healer finally concluded.

Derscha nodded in thanks. "No… I think I know more than I wanted!"

She turned to Arietha to see if the recruit were ready to brave the weather, but the night elf suddenly looked past them as her sensitive hearing caught the rustling sounds of someone nearby. She moved behind Derscha and peered curiously at the newcomer.

The new arrival finished removing his heavy cloak, revealing battered, plain armor under the sable tabard of the Argent Dawn.

The older healer quietly made his way to the paladin's side. "Sir Stoneheardt, it is good to see you!"

"Yes, Father, it is always good to see you, too." He embraced the abbot.

Derscha raised her eyebrows at Arietha in unspoken communication. Stoneheardt? She walked over to join the two, Arietha following a few steps behind.

"I found some more of that frost thistle plant. Here you are, Father." Stoneheardt had removed a modestly sized pouch from his belt and was handing it to the abbot.

The abbot accepted the gift, and turned to his uniformed guests. "Here he is, Miss Kettlebomb. This is Sir Merral Stoneheardt, Apothecary of the Argent Crusade. Sir Merral, these young ladies are Derscha Kettlebomb and Arietha Whitesong, messengers from the south."

Arietha bowed silently, while Derscha bobbed a curtsey. "Pleased to meet you. Specifically, we're from the Anytime, Anywhere Messenger Service."

The paladin stroked his iron gray beard carefully regarding the courier in white and gold. "Yes… I know them. It has been some time since they had any business up here, however."

"It wasn't easy renting a gryphon!" Derscha laughed, then added more seriously. "But we're actually have a delivery for you, Sir Stoneheardt."

Merral's deep chuckle seemed to resonate in the stone room. "Yes, I imagine it was no such thing. What brings you up to our humble surroundings, to deliver a message to an old man?"

"A letter from Rhudran, for you. Father Talmon offered to pass it on to you."

"Ah, Master Rhudran. What a… dynamic character. I remember him well."

Merral turned to the abbot, who nodded and extended the letter in question. He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Almost immediately, his expression tighten, and his eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

A long moment passed, and then-

"Thank you, all of you, for bringing this to my attention. Here, a token of my gratitude."

He took a couple of empty herb pouches from his belt, filled them with a few coins, and tossed them to the couriers.

Arietha easily snatched hers from the air, but Derscha fumbled and caught the purse mere inches from the ground.

What had she told Arietha? 'Always be polite and friendly!' That was the rule.

"Thank you for doing business with the AAMS!" she said cheerily. She waited a moment, and then poked the Arietha in the leg.

Arietha looked down, where her teacher regarded her with a look that clearly said, "Don't forget to thank him, now."

"Thanks," Arietha said quietly, and offered a shy smile.

"A good day to you both, then."

The couriers took their leave, and Father Talmon arranged for their gryphon to be brought back to the courtyard. There were signs of a real storm approaching, and the window to safely leave was closing.

The smile faded from his lips as the couriers lifted off, and Merral beckoned to the abbot.

"Rhudran the Faithful says that there could be trouble for the Paladins of the Alliance. He believes that someone figured out how to use their souls for some nefarious purpose. The elements worry about him, and much as I find his penchant for shamanism strange, he is so rarely wrong."

The abbot looks down and away, "So that's it, then?"

With a sad smile, Merral claps Talmon on the shoulder with a smile, "What's 'it,' anyway? That Icethorn should last you a while, and I won't be gone forever, my friend. The Crusade takes care of its own."

Father Talmon nods, and produces a key from within his robes, "You will want your good armor, then. The least I can do is make sure you look like a knight, not a vagabond! I shall have a freshly cleaned Argent Crusade tabard ready for you."

"Thank you, Father. I shall see to Stormfeather, then. I must depart soon; Rhudran's note seems urgent."

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((Not my best writing, but the show must go on~))